Implementation
Develop a program by 2024 that, through targeted outreach and peer-to-peer learning, provides carbon sequestration education and resources to relevant stakeholders (e.g., farmers, ranchers, and land managers). The program will focus on
educating stakeholders about the co-benefits of implementing carbon sequestration practices and the variety of financial and technical resources that are available to assist farmers and ranchers in implementation. This program may be
coordinated with industry groups and nonprofits, such as the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts. Funding and implementation resources that could support the program include but are not limited to the following:
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA’s) California’s Healthy Soils Program (HSP) promotes the development of healthy soils and soil organic matter that can increase carbon sequestration and reduce GHG emissions. The HSP provides financial and technical assistance for implementation of projects that serve to achieve these goals, including compost application and tillage management.
CDFA’s Alternative Manure Management Program provides funding to reduce GHG emissions through the implementation of manure management best practices.
The Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC’s) Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program protects critical agricultural lands from conversion to more GHG-intensive residential uses by facilitating conservation easements and strategy plans. SCG’s Technical Assistance Program supports communities, particularly the State’s most disadvantaged communities, that apply for California Climate Investments funding.
Zero Foodprint’s Restore CA Program provides funding to farmers and ranchers for implementing healthy soils projects that improve carbon sequestration, including grazing management, compost application, and tillage management.
The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Small Grants Program provides funding to farmers and ranchers, as well as local and State governments, for environmentally regenerative approaches to producing crops and livestock, including soil health improvements and crop diversification.
The U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service offers several financial and technical assistance programs to agricultural producers to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. The Conservation Stewardship Program educates farmers on the benefits of conservation and sustainable agriculture practices and assists with the development of plans to improve agricultural productivity. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program assists agricultural producers in addressing natural resource concerns and delivering environmental benefits through projects such as crop rotation, prescribed grazing, and manure management. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program focuses on innovative conservation objectives, such as cover crop adoption to improve soil health.
Time Frame: Midterm
GHG Reduction Potential: 146,934 MT CO2e per year by 2030
Sector: Agriculture
Target Indicator: Implementation of a variety of carbon farming techniques and practices on agricultural land in Sacramento County, including:
application of compost instead of synthetic fertilizer to 22,000 acres of cropland by 2026 and 44,344 acres of cropland by 2030;
grazing management to improve irrigated pasture conditions applied to 2,500 acres by 2026 and 4,965 acres by 2030;
decrease in fallow frequency or addition of perennial crops to rotations applied to 13,000 acres by 2026 and 27,515 acres by 2030; and
tillage reduced, eliminated, or changed to strip tilling on 2,000 acres by 2026 and 4,557 acres by 2030.
Status of Implementation
The Sustainability Manager hired a CivicSpark Fellow for the 2023-2024 service year who developed the County's comprehensive Carbon Farming Informational Webpages. As part of the project, the County coordinated with local- and State-level resource conservation districts and associations, coordinated with local compost producers to develop lunch and learn events, coordinated with the agricultural commissioner, and utilized the USDA COMET-Planner tool to evaluate the greenhouse gas mitigation and/or carbon sequestration benefits potential for Sacramento County lands that could utilize carbon farming practices.
The Fellow also supported and interfaced with the County's Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force, particularly the Agricultural member and one of the Environmental Justice members who is a Sacramento State professor helping the County bridge its carbon farming efforts with those of the University and its faculty.
The County continues to hold seasonal compost giveaways and has expanded the program to include a new location at Gibson Ranch Park and will continue to conduct outreach and media events including free compost deliveries to local community gardens.
Updated 9/10/24.
